I run my iPod with a single playlist, and totally random.
This is the soundtrack for my hellish NYC commute, so I want whatever oddball stuff... English folk...
Right then. Can't think of individual tracks off the top of my head, so will focus on albums. Will go back to my cd collection and sort out track suggestions over the weekend:
* Eliza Carthy & The Ratcatchers - "Rough Music" lp. Dark brooding english folk played by one of the true royalty of the folk scene. Cracking fiddle playing and vocal harmonies. "Turpin Hero" is an outstanding track.
* Bellowhead - "EP Onymous" e.p and "Burlesque" lp. Funny, clever and terribly inventive folk. With full brass section including sousaphone. "Copshawholme Fair" off the former, and "London Town" off the latter would be my two essential tracks.
* Waterson:Carthy - "A Dark Light" lp. Folk music so dark even the devil himself would shy away from it. Yet with great humour.
* Kate Rusby - "The Girl Who Couldn't Fly" lp. Much prettier lighter folk than my previous suggestions. "Jack Frost" is my standout track.
* Seth Lakeman - "Freedom Fields" lp. The current darling of the english folk scene. Awsome driving fiddle playing that really propells songs along. "Lady of the Sea", "Setting of the Sun", "1643", "Take No Rogues", "Riflemen of War" are worth a listen. Definatly proof that folk isn't for wimps.
There's also a new folk influenced band about to make it's debut release that I could recommend too ;)
Other non folky stuff:
* Tom Waits - "Raindogs", "Swordfishtrombones", and "Real Gone" lp's. Essential listening and utterly bonkers.
* Neko Case - "Furnace Room Lullaby". Gorgeous country noir, and a phenomenally powerful voice. Lazy critics have compared her to the ghost of Billie Holliday and Patsy Cline. But thats just lazy journalism :)
* Gillian Welch - "Revival" lp. Bluegrass music played with absolute commitment. Sounds like it's fallen through a timewarp from 1943.
That should keep you going mate ;)
*Rahnooo*
